The Ultimate 9 lb Gear List; Full Luxury

This gear list is a superb all round gear list that does not skimp on comfort or safety for the sake of weight, yet won’t hurt your back. It is super warm and comfortable; a top of the line sleeping quilt, 3.8r inflatable mat, a framed backpack and a spacious one person shelter are all included.

This gear would be perfect for almost all hikers in 3 season conditions to take on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Joh Muir Trail or to hike in Europe on the GR20 in Corsica or on the Camino.

I have put this list together with the sole criteria being performance and weight. This means that all of the gear is the best, but it can also be expensive. Getting a good gear list doesn’t have to be expensive and there are also some really good gear suggestions to reduce the cost without sacrificing performance in the Thru Hiker’s Budget Gear List: $970, 9.4lbs.

Use this list on your upcoming hike, or integrate some lighter options into your pack from My 6 lb Gear List.

Overview:

Weight (lbs)

Weight (kg)

Cost (US$)

Backpack

1.8

0.8

$312.00

Shelter

1.1

0.5

$564.00

Sleep System

2.1

1.0

$554.00

Clothing in Pack

1.9

0.8

$715.00

Cooking Equipment

0.5

0.2

$123.00

Water Treatment / Storage

0.3

0.1

$51.00

Electronics

1.1

0.5

$106.00

Random / First Aid

0.3

0.2

$11.00

Total

9.2

4.1

$2,436.00

Backpack:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Backpack

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 2400

Durable, Waterproof fabric

28

784

$310

Alternative

ULA Olm 2.0

Budget, most easily fitted pack

Alternative

Atompacks The Prospector

Extremely lightweight, Fully custom, Waterproof fabric

Waterproof Liner

Trash Compactor

Use as an internal bag liner

1.5

42

$2

29.5

826

$312

Shelter System:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Shelter

Zpacks Soloplex

Lightweight, needs treking pole

14.5

406

$549

Alternative

Zpacks Hexamid + Polycro ground sheet

For people under 5″8′

Alternative

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1

Free Standing

Stakes

MSR 4 Groundhog tent peg + 2 titanium shepard hook

Bigger stakes for 4 corners and smaller stakes for the others

2.7

75

$15

17.2

481

$564

Sleep System:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Sleeping Bag

Katabatic Gear Alsek 22°F

Very warm quilt

22

616

385

Alternative

Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20°F

Lightweight quilt but not as warm, budget. Get 1.5oz overstuffed

Alternative

Feathered Friends Hummingbird 20°F

Traditional Sleeping Bag, vary warm

Sleeping Pad

Thermarest Neoair Xlite (Women Version)

Extremely warm or summer. Men will likely have their shins off the end

12

336

$169

Alternative

Thermarest Neoair Xlite Small

Lightweight

Alternative

Thermarest Zlite, 3/4 length

Budget

34

952

S554

Clothing System:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Rain Jacket

Outdoor Research Helium 2

Light, reasonably durable, poor hood

6.4

179.2

$120

Alternative

Frogg Toggs Ultra Lite 2

Cheap, dispoable and most breathable in its weight clase

Alternative

Zpacks Groundsheet / Poncho

Warm Jacket

Mountain Hardwear Ghost Wisperer

Down

7.8

218.4

$265

Alternative

Patagonia Nano Puff Insulated Jacket

Synthetic

Wind Pants

Patagonia Houdini Pants

Really useful to keep warm when moving, great for laundry cloths

3

84

$90

Wind Jacket

Patagonia Houdini Jacket

Really useful to keep warm when moving, clean layer for bed

3

84

$99

Thermal Pants

Patagonia Thermal Weight Capilene Bottoms

Light, durable warm for weight

4.7

131.6

$80

Gloves

Powerstrech

1.5

42

$25

Head

Fleece beanie

1

28

$20

Socks

Darn Tough Micro Crew

Second Pair

1.5

42

$15

Bandana

Use under hat to block sun, use as a drying towel

1

28

$1

29.9

837

$715

Cooking System:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Stove

MSR Pocket Rocket 2

Isobutane canister stove

2.6

72.8

$45

Pot

Toaks Titanium 750ml Pot

Replace lid with tin foil

3

84

$35

Lighter

Bic Mini

0.2

5.6

$2

Spoon

Lexan Spoon

As durable as titanim at a fraction of the price

0.5

14

$1

Food bag

S2S Stuff Sack

1

28

$20

Knife

Victorianox Classic

Basic knife and sissors for everyday use

0.7

21

$20

8

225

$123

Water Treatment and Storage:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Water Treatment

Sawyer Squeeze

Filter

3

84

$30

Alternative

Aqua Mira

Chemical Treatment

Water Storage

Smartwater

1.3

37

$1

Water Storage

Platypus 2L flexible

Compresible when not in use

1

28

$20

5.3

149

$51

Electronics:

Item

Comments

Wt (oz)

Wt (g)

Cost (USD)

Phone

What you already have

6

175

Battery Pack

Ravpower 10,000MA Quick charge

3.5 hours to charge

7.1

200

$30

Charger

Fonken Quick Charge 3.0

To quick charge the battery pack. Also, 2 of these is lighter than a duel port charger